GOSPEL, Mark (5: 21-43)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” 24 So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
The resurrection of Jairus’ daughter, and the healing of the sick woman, as well as other miracles, evidence the arrival of the kingdom of God, present in the person of Jesus. He emphasizes his power over illness and death and above all, foreshadows his resurrection.
If in fact, the physical and spiritual life, the fruit of the love of God and the love of our parents, is manifested in so many events, such as the joy of a spouses’ love, children’s tussle and play, solidarity, leisure etc… It also includes moments of despondency and pain, sadness, depression, illness and death, many of which are attributed to human nature and the way their lives are lived.
To get closer to Christ, we need to accept the gift of faith, fully. Without faith, we cannot solve the ultimate enigma of human life: death.
28 for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Jesus, seeing the depth of the woman’s faith, says: “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
When Jairus, accompanied by Jesus and the Apostles approached his home, they convey to him the sad news of his daughter’s death, in this difficult time of trial, Jesus gives him encouragement and hope, saying: “Do not fear, only believe.”
Based on faith, people finds satisfactory answers to the anguishing questions about their destinies.
Humanity was created by God, so that they may have a happy and fruitful life and also offered through faith, a way which is far beyond the limits of earthly misery and death. Although the certainty of dying saddens us, the promise of future immortality consoles us.
The life of those who believe in You, Lord, does not end, it just becomes eternal.
PRAYER
Help us, Lord, to believe in Your Word and understand the way of life that your beloved and only begotten Son lived. “Unless the grain of wheat die in the ground, it is barren without bearing fruit.”
Lord,with your Spirit, transform us into witnesses of Your love and Your creation, spreading your kingdom and rejuvenating our hearts. Amen.